Connector having a coupling member for locking onto a port and maintaining electrical continuity

• US 8,758,050 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2011
• Issued: 06/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hiscock & Barclay LLP (Barclay Damon LLP)
• Inventors: Montena, Noah
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHIEM M
• Application Number:
  US13/157,340
• Publication Number:
  US 20120315788A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,110 Days
• Field of Search: 439/253, 439/357, 439/502, 439/578
• US Class Current: 439/578
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/622 Screw-ring or screw-casing H01R13/623 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6275 Latching arms not integral with the housing H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/38 having concentrically or coaxially arranged contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/003 the coupling part being secured only to wires or cables
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/48 utilising a spring, clip, or other resilient member H01R4/52 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/05 for coaxial cables

Abstract

A coupling member including a body defined by an inner surface and an outer surface between a first end and a second end, at least one resilient contact extending a distance from the inner surface of the body, the at least one resilient contact configured to provide a retention force, and at least one resilient protrusion extending a distance from the inner surface of the body, the at least one resilient protrusion positioned proximate the second end of the body and configured to contact a conductive surface is provided. A cable connector for mating with an interface port having external threads, comprising a coupling member attached to the post, the coupling member having one or more resilient contacts and resilient protrusions, wherein the resilient contacts are configured to provide a retention force between a coupling member and a port and the resilient protrusions facilitate electrical continuity through the connector is further provided. Furthermore, associated methods are also provided.

Claims

1. A coupling member comprising:

a body defined by an inner surface and an outer surface between a first end a second end;

at least one first resilient contact extending a distance from the inner surface of the body, the at least one first resilient contact configured to be rotationally attached and electrically grounded to a conductive surface of a coaxial cable connector; and

at least one second resilient contact extending a distance from the inner surface of the body, the at least one second resilient contact configured to engage a working surface of an interface port in an axial direction to provide a retention force and disengage the working surface in response to rotational movement of the body.

2. The coupling member of claim 1, wherein the at least one first resilient contact provides a retention force with a coaxial cable interface port.

3. The coupling member of claim 1, wherein the conductive surface is a conductive post of a coaxial cable connector.

4. The coupling member of claim 1, wherein the at least one second resilient contact includes a tip.

5. The coupling member of claim 1, wherein the body is formed of plastic and the at least one first resilient contact and the at least one second resilient contact are connected by a conductive strip embedded into the body.

6. The coupling member of claim 1, wherein the body is formed of a metal.

7. A coaxial cable connector for mating with an interface port defining a working surface, comprising:

a post configured to receive a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric of a coaxial cable;

a connector body attached to the post; and

a coupling member rotatably attached and electrically grounded to the post, the coupling member having one or more resilient contacts, wherein the resilient contacts are configured to engage with the working surface after the coupling member is moved over the working surface in an axial direction and wherein the resilient contacts disengage the working surface in response to rotational movement of the coupling member relative to the interface port.

8. The coaxial cable connector of claim 7, wherein the one or more resilient contacts are radially inward protrusions.

9. The coaxial cable connector of claim 7, wherein the one or more resilient contacts are structurally integral with the coupling member.

10. The coaxial cable connector of claim 7, further comprising a fastener member radially disposed over the connector body to radially compress the coaxial cable.

11. The coaxial cable connector of claim 7, wherein the engagement of the resilient contacts prevents axial movement of the connector in a second axial direction.

12. The coaxial cable connector of claim 11, wherein the working surface is defined by a thread and wherein the engagement between the resilient contacts and the working surface includes a tip of at least one of the resilient contacts lodged securely against a thread of the port.

13. A coaxial cable connector for connecting to a working surface of interface port comprising:

a post configured to receive a prepared end of a coaxial cable having a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric;

a connector body attached to the post; and

a coupling member rotatably attached and electrically grounded to the post, wherein the coupling member includes a first and second set of resilient contacts, the first set of resilient contacts configured to maintain electrical continuity through the connector, and the second set of resilient contacts configured to engage the working surface of the interface port after the coupling member is moved over the working surface in an axial direction and disengage the working surface of the interface port in response to rotation of the coupling member.

14. The coaxial cable connector of claim 13, wherein the electrical continuity is maintained through the connector by physical contact between the coupling member and the post.

15. The coaxial cable connector of claim 13, wherein the first set of resilient contacts biasingly engage an outer surface of the post to extend electrical continuity.

16. The coaxial cable connector of claim 13, wherein each of the second set of resilient contacts include a tip that securely contacts at least one thread of the port to provide a retention force.

17. The coaxial cable connector of claim 13, wherein the first and second sets of resilient contacts are integral with the coupling member.

18. The coaxial cable connector of claim 13, wherein the first set of resilient contacts are located along an internal lip of the coupling member.

19. The coaxial cable connector of claim 13, further comprising a fastener member radially disposed over the connector body to radially compress the coaxial cable.

20. A coaxial cable connector adapted to mate with an interface port, comprising:

a post configured to receive a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric of a coaxial cable;

a connector body attached to the post;

a coupling member rotatably attached and electrically grounded to the post, the coupling member having a first end and a second end;

a means for providing a retention force in an axial direction between the coupling member and the port, wherein the means for providing the retention force is integral with the coupling member; and

a means for disengaging the coupling member from the interface port in response to rotation of the coupling member relative to the interface port.

21. The coaxial cable of claim 20, further comprising a means for maintaining electrical continuity through the connector, wherein the means for maintaining electrical continuity is integral with the coupling member.

22. A connector for connecting to an interface port comprising:

a post configured to receive a prepared end of a coaxial cable having a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric;

a connector body attached to the post; and

a coupling member having a first end and a second end, wherein the coupling member includes a first set of contacts proximate the second end configured to maintain electrical continuity between a conductive component and the coupling member, the coupling member configured to be rotationally attached to the conductive component, and a second set of contacts configured to provide a retention force in an axial direction between the coupling member and the port, the second of contacts being configured to disengage from the port in response to rotational movement of the coupling member relative to the port.

23. The connector of claim 22, wherein the connector is a N-Male connector.

24. The connector of claim 22, wherein the connector is a DIN Male connector.

25. The connector of claim 22, wherein the conductive component does not engage the prepared end of the coaxial cable.

26. A method of retaining a connector onto a port in an axial direction, comprising:

providing a post configured to receive a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric of a coaxial cable, a connector body attached to the post, a coupling member rotatably attached and electrically grounded to the post, wherein the coupling member has a first end and second end; and

forming one or more resilient contacts on the coupling member, wherein the resilient contacts are configured to engage with a working surface after the coupling member is moved over the working surface in an axial direction and wherein the resilient contacts disengage the working surface in response to rotational movement of the coupling member relative to the port.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the resilient contacts are radially inward fingers configured to physically engage threads of a corresponding port.

28. The method of claim 26, further comprising facilitating continuity through the connector.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein facilitating continuity includes forming one or more resilient protrusions proximate the second end of the coupling member, the resilient protrusions configured to physically and electrically contact the post.